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Artwork for Word In Your Ear
The Beatles
Punk Rock
David Bowie
Oasis
Bob Dylan
London
Music Industry
Paul Mccartney
John Lennon
Live Aid
Beach Boys
Bob Marley
Taylor Swift
Music History
Ringo Starr
Rolling Stones
Music
Bruce Springsteen
Jimi Hendrix
Joni Mitchell

Mark Ellen and David Hepworth have been talking about and writing about music together and individually for a collective eighty years in magazines like Smash Hits, Mojo and The Word and on radio and TV programmes like "Rock On", "Whistle Test" and VH-1.

Over thirteen years ago, when working on the late magazine The Word, they began producing podcasts. Some listeners have been kind enough to say th... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes974Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
MusicMusic HistoryMusic Commentary

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Artwork for Word In Your Ear

Latest Episodes

Seven hundred fans have contributed to ‘Gary Numan: A People’s History’, a lavishly published compendium of memories of discovering, hearing and watching him over the 50 years he’s been making music. As you might imagine, he’s immensely touched, not ... more

David Gray went through the roof with his White Ladder album in 2000 and he’s toured and recorded ever since, ending this summer’s loop at Latitude. He talks to us here about the rigours of seeing bands when you lived in rural Wales and the hilarious... more

Digging deep in the icebox of news to choose the following lightly chilled refreshments …

… 500 Miles, Wonderwall, Yes Sir I Can Boogie(?): what does it take to be a football anthem?

… Gorillaz brilliant reinvention of the “guest appearance”

... more

Peter Frampton, for goodness sake! Part of our lives at Word In Your Ear since we were teenagers. Played guitar on national telly when he was 14. Joined the Herd at 16 and Humble Pie two years later. Had the biggest-selling album in American history ... more

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Recent Guests

Philip Norman
Author of Mr Moonlight: Brian Epstein and the Making of the Beatles
Author
Episode: Brian Epstein & the Beatles - what he did and what he hid
Paul Thompson
Birthday guest, supporter and contributor to Word In Your Ear activities
Word In Your Ear
Episode: Are we nearing Beatles Overload? plus the rock star with the most children (41!)
Lloyd Bradley
Author of Funk Is Its Own Reward
Author, Funk Is Its Own Reward
Episode: The glorious story of Funk from James Brown to Off The Wall
Leo Sayer
Singer and musician, guest on the show
Self
Episode: Leo Sayer has met everyone – rock legends, sport superstars, future presidents …
Daniel Lanois
Musician and legendary producer
Independent musician; producer for Dylan, U2, Willie Nelson, etc.
Episode: How Daniel Lanois made those adventurous records with Dylan, U2 and Willie Nelson
Cathi Unsworth
Author of Season of the Witch; Goth expert
Author, Dressed in Black
Episode: Siouxsie, Nico, Cocteaus, Shangri-Las, Bobbie Gentry … a celebration of the sound of Goth!
Kathy Valentine
Member of the Go-Go's; invited guest discussing the book
Go-Go's
Episode: Blondie and Clem Burke remembered by devoted pal Kathy Valentine of the Go-Go’s
Rat Scabies
Drummer for The Damned
The Damned
Episode: The Damned at 50 and the memories (and regrets) of Rat Scabies
Simon Reynolds
Author of Still In A Dream, Shoegaze, Slackers and the Reinvention of Rock 1984–1994
Author
Episode: Shoegaze, slackers, ‘noise chasms’ and the 10-year reinvention of rock

Hosts

Mark Ellen
Co-host and host of the long-running conversation series, with a focus on music history, culture, and interviews with artists and authors.
David Hepworth
Co-host and co-creator; renowned for music history context, collaborative storytelling, and candid cultural insights.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 810 ratings
  • Smashing pod from the Smash Hits Team

    Podcast Addict
    5
    ericorthwaite
    18 days ago
  • Great podcast

    Like sitting in a pub with some mates chatting about music and arts. We need a book with all the Stackwaddys in it .

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mdjudickck
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • A constant companion

    ‘Keep us in therapy and you can walk the dog at the same time’ goes the ident, well WIYE regularly accompanies me on my late night dog walks and I hope it continues to do so for a long time.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    pwg69
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Two Beautiful People

    Great raconteurs who must be listened to. One of these guys kind of sounds like Paul McCartney too, which is not bad at all.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Guy Jincarde
    Japana month ago
  • Where’s Pete?

    Love the pod, guys. Always fun and enlightening. Thanks for the words about Andy Kershaw. I saw Pete Paphides’ column about Andy and he mentioned interviewing Andy for Word Magazine back in the day. Which leads me to the question: Has Pete ever appeared on Word In Your Ear?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Joshua Graham12
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests are consistently high-caliber and bring unique perspectives.
The show's long-form format and historical focus are highly valued by fans.
Listeners praise the hosts' knowledge and conversational warmth.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Brian Epstein & the Beatles - what he did and what he hid
Q: How did Epstein handle the Beatles' early success and their need for protection from fame?
He acted as a protective facilitator, arranging flats, managing living situations, and steering their public image to shield them from the brutal glare of fame while also pushing strategic decisions that expanded their reach.
Brian Epstein & the Beatles - what he did and what he hid
Q: What drove Brian Epstein to become a manager who altered pop music and Britain's image abroad?
Epstein's drive stemmed from a blend of local business savvy, genuine affection for the Beatles, and a desire to control and present the acts in a way that made them both marketable and respectable, even when he was facing a then-unknown landscape for pop management.
Blondie and Clem Burke remembered by devoted pal Kathy Valentine of the Go-Go’s
Q: What did Clem value about his place in the bands and in the scene?
They discuss his sense of democracy within a band, his frustrations with leadership decisions, and how he balanced being a contributor with the need for credit and autonomy.
Blondie and Clem Burke remembered by devoted pal Kathy Valentine of the Go-Go’s
Q: So when did your paths first cross?
Kathy explains how she first encountered Clem through mutual connections and their initial professional meetings, which gradually grew into a deeper personal connection and collaboration.
Brian Eno’s restless creative adventures with Roxy, Bowie, U2 and Talking Heads
Q: What is the story behind using two weeks of holiday for U2 during a recording session?
The idea was to force a creative reset; when they returned, the band had a clearer sense of what to keep and what to discard, leading to tighter, more purposeful overdubs.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Word In Your Ear

What is Word In Your Ear about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two long-running music broadcasters explore deep histories of rock, punk, shoegaze, and nightlife through intimate interviews, archival context, and cultural commentary. Episodes balance nostalgia with practical touring realities, industry anecdotes, and analysis of how technology, venues, and media shape listening and fandom. Notable strengths include a rich roster of guests spanning photographers, authors, journalists, and industry insiders, plus a consistent, unreconstructed voice that blends affection with sharp critique. The format often centers on the stories behind influential records, iconic scenes, and the people who documented or lived through them, making it a must-listen for listeners who crave craft, context, and long-form conv... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Word In Your Ear?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Word In Your Ear:

1. Rockonteurs with Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt
2. EggPod Express
3. Sodajerker On Songwriting
4. THE ADAM BUXTON PODCAST
5. Kermode & Mayo’s Take

How many episodes of Word In Your Ear are there?

Word In Your Ear launched 5 years ago and published 974 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Word In Your Ear?

Recent guests on Word In Your Ear include:

1. Philip Norman
2. Paul Thompson
3. Lloyd Bradley
4. Leo Sayer
5. Daniel Lanois
6. Cathi Unsworth
7. Kathy Valentine
8. Rat Scabies

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